New-York tribune., 1887-05-15
SIGNOR CRISPTS WIVES.
THE ITALIAN STATESMAN A FREQUENT
LOVER-CHURCH AND STATE.


LOVER-CHURCH AND STATE.
fFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRBuSEI
ROME, April 2S
The subject which at the present moment monop-
oizes the interest aud conversation OF society here
IS the question rs to whether Queen Marguerite
will continue to refuse TO receive thewife of Sgnor
Crispi. who has now become the Minister of the
Interior Hitherto her Majesty has persistenty re-
fused to do So but the fact that Signor Crspi has
become the mainstay and most powerful momber OF
the present Cabinet may possibly induce her TO
give way. The Queens cor duct is hardly surpris-
ing when the,very peculiar matrimonial experiences
of Crispi are taken into consideration. The latter
was one OF the chief promoters of the tnsnrrechoh
of Palermo against the BourDons in 1915 and after
the victory of the royal trOopa was forced TO seek
refuge at Malta, where with the object of swceten-
ing the bitterness of exile he married a beautiful
and estmabla Maltese peasant girl. In 1859, leav-
ing his wife behind him at Malta, he joined Carl
bad and landed with the volunteers OF the latter
at Palermo, fighting ih their ranks as simple
soldier The vandiere Of his regiment was at that
time celebrated character Dressed in the tradi-
tiOpal red blouse, with a musket on her shoulder,
Rosalie for that her name, took part in all the
battles and slew with her own fair hands countless
numbers of the Kings troops. EDraptured by so
much herOism spi, forgetiul OF the trusting wife
whom he had left behind him at Malta, gave vent
hand to the somewhat masculine Rosalc, and the
marriage was celebrated in due form without delay.
After tue successful term in alton of the insurrecton
CrsIi was elected to rel fTesent his native city,
Palermo, in the Italian Parliament and soon
acquired great prominence and nigh oiiice. Madame
RosaLe, after having shared his dangers, was MAJ
urally also called upon TO share his She
was presented at Court and owing to the position
of her husband became one OF the most constant
guests of the Queen, who vastly enjoyed her eceen-
trcites OF character and picturesqueness Of Ian
guage. OF course mention was made Of the de-
serted wife at Malta whose very existence had
been kept profound secret by her faithess spouse.
The latter after acting for some time president
of the Chamber OF Deputies, was holding in 1877
the post of Minister of the Interior in The Depretis
Cabinet when suddenly Rome, anu in fact the
whole of Italy, convulsed by tho announcement
that Crspi hal Just contracted another marriage at
Naples. On inquiry at the latter place IT was dis
covered that by order Of the Minister OF Justice the
local authorities had dispensed with the usual
banns and publications, and tina: tho marriage had
been duly solom nized. OF course there was tire
mendous outcry, and the Minister Of Justice was
called upon to explain by what right he had
authorized his colleague at the Interior Department
10 contract bigamous marriage The former in
selfdefence then made pnblic for tho first time
Crispi's Maltese marriage, and added that Madame
Crispi No. had Just died. lie explained that the
marriage with Madame Rosalie being null and
void by reason Of bigamy there was now no legal
obstacle to prevent Crispi from wedding wife No 8.
1t is needless 10 add that the scandal caused by
this extraordinary behavior the paIt of the Mn
lister of the Interior immense and necessitated
his immediate withdrawal from the Cabinet.
Madame ROsae is still alive and resides at Rome.
Her hair is snow-white, and she makes point of
taking part IN all tho Garbaldian professions and
demonstrations Her stout figure, dressed the
red blouse and with large array of medals on the
breast is one of the most conspicuous. Madame
Rosae has never attempted to prosecute Crispi for
bigamY and has agreed TO leave him TO his own
devices in consideration of receiving a yearly
allowance of 81 200 for the remainder of her life.
At Rome she Ia known by the name of Madame
Crispi No. 2, wlie the Minister'S present wife is
known as No. 3.
Signor Crspi has displayed tho most intense
animosty to Deprets, since tho latter den anded
his resignaton in 1873, and with Nicotara Carroll,
Bacarini and Zanardei has daring the last eight
years constituted the most powerful opposition TO
the government of his former chief. Depretls who
not only in age but also IN profound parliamentary
experience and versatility OF character Is almost
the exact counterpart OF Mr. Gladstone has marvel
lously strengthened his reform Cabinet by inducing
the two most prominent members OF the above
mentioned -" Pentarchyo to accept Office under him.
1anardell, q Lombard by birth, has become Min
lister Of Justice, while Crspi has retaken possession
of his former post of Minister of the Interior
People here are at loss to comprehend the motive
Of Crisp in taking office. Some attribute it to q
desire for wreakng vengeance ON Depretis; Others
again assert that the latter only retains the nomi
nal leadership, and that the real head of the Cab
net is Crispi. Much amusement has been created
here by the assertion that Crisp would be likely to
coan eract the policy Of Count de Robilant, and
Deprets. far the recently contracted alliance
with Germany and Austria Is concerned. Nothing
s ,5n GrS9 mas aEays been
doubt If there is any one in Italy whose heart is
filed with moro bitter feelings OF animosity toward
France than Crispi.
Although Crspi is known a Liberal of almost
Radical tendencies, yet his advent TO office is re-
garded very proptious to the Efforts which are
being made to reconcile the Vatican with the
Qurinai. He is clever enough to understand how
necessary the Church is to the State, and, de-
scrbed in former letter, it was he who: as Min
ConClave from being held anywhere but in Italy by
the threat that the Vatican would be seized the |
very moment the last Cardinal had crossed the
Italian frontier At the present moment q large
body of electors in Italy are debarred from sue
exercise of their political rights and from the fran
chse by the orders of the Holy Father. This OF
course places the Government at great disadyan-
tage in fighting against the growth of socialism |
and revolutionary ideas A reconciliation to the |
Church and the permission to the followers of the
Vatican to take part in elections would therefore
give tho Government an overwhelming majority at
the polls
The nominations which the Pope has just made to
the vacant Nunciaturos of Vienna, Munich. Madrd |
and Paris are significant of his desire for reconca
tion. In former letter wrote at length about |
Mgr. Galimberti, the ne newly.appolnted Nunclo 70
favorite and confidential adviser OF the Holy |
Father, but that he was also the recognized leader
cs hh' and Po pafS are az to
same faction while Mgr ROtel, who is transferred
from Constantnopls TO tho difficult post of Nnncio
n IL ka firat N